The big news for the 1953 Volkswagen Beetle was that the split rear window was gone. A distinctive design feature in the early-'50s Beetles, it was replaced by a single oval pane that helped improve visibility out the rear.

That turned out to be the most significant upgrade to the '53 model. Other changes were minor, such as moving the brake fluid reservoir, adding a handle to the ashtray, and changing the ratios for the transmission's third and fourth gears.

The '53 Beetle's synchromesh transmission shifted easily, according to one reviewer, and the car handled well, with its rear end holding the road in all but the worst conditions, thanks for the rear engine. Today's collectors can expect to pay two to three times the original price of the car for a well-preserved or reconditioned model.